the Israelites counterattacked.<n id="1" /> Benjamin had begun to strike down the Israelites;<n id="2" /> they struck down<n id="3" /> about thirty men. They said, &#8220;There&#8217;s no doubt about it! They are totally defeated as in the earlier battle.&#8221;

Then the Benjaminites said, &#8220;They are defeated just as before.&#8221; But the Israelites said, &#8220;Let&#8217;s retreat<n id="1" /> and lure them<n id="2" /> away from the city into the main roads.&#8221;

Then the Benjaminites saw they were defeated.p> <p class="bodytext">The Israelites retreated before<n id="1" /> Benjamin, because they had confidence in the men they had hid in ambush outside Gibeah.

The <sc>Lordsc> annihilated Benjamin before Israel; the Israelites struck down that day 25,100 sword-wielding Benjaminites.<n id="1" />